Nikhil Gupta, a 54-year-old Indian national accused of plotting the murder of Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, has pleaded guilty. Gupta has reportedly admitted to all charges against him.

Gupta was arrested in June 2023 in the Czech Republic and later extradited to the US. Later, charges against him were announced in November 2023 by the US Justice Department. Initially he denied the charges against him.

Nikhil is scheduled to be sentenced by US District Judge Victor Marrero on May 29.

Who is Nikhil Gupta, and how is he related to the Pannu murder plot?

Nikhil is an Indian citizen who described himself as an international dealer in narcotics and weapons. According to the investigation by the US authorities, he was recruited by Vikash Yadav, a co-defendant earlier employed in the Cabinet Secretariat of the Government of India.

The United States Attorney's Office, in May 2023, claimed that Yadav recruited Nikhil to help plan the assassination in the US. Nikhil then contacted someone he believed was a criminal associate, but was actually a Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) confidential source (CS).

The CS introduced Gupta to a hitman, who was actually a DEA undercover officer (UC). Nikhil brokered a deal between the alleged hitman and Yadav to assassinate Pannun. The deal was locked at $100,000, and $15,000 was paid as an advance payment through an associate on June 23, 2023.

Pannun's address, phone number and daily routine were provided by Yadav. Gupta passed over this information to the undercover officer

What are three charges against Nikhil Gupta?

Nikhil has pleaded guilty to all three charges. These are

  • Murder-for-hire
  • Conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire
  • Conspiracy to commit money laundering

Collectively, these crimes will amount to a maximum possible sentence of 40 years in prison.

How is case linked to Nijjar killing?

The investigation found links to the killing of another Khalistani terrorist, Hardeep Singh Nijjar, in Canada. On June 19, 2023, a day after he was shot dead by masked gunmen, Gupta allegedly told the undercover officer that he "was also the target."

However, the evidence of such a conversation has not been reported yet. In the alleged conversation, Gupta told the undercover agent that they have so many targets.